Exhaust box



July 22, 1924. 1,502,019

C. J. CLEAR ET AL EXHAUST BOX Filed Sept. 2l. 1922 I 5 Sheets-Sheelt 1 July 22, 1924. 1,502,019 c. J. CLEAR ET AL EXHAUST 'BOX Filed Sept, 21, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 .N @MK July 22 l`92l.` 1,502,019

C. J. CLEAR ET AL EXHAUST Box Filed Sept. 21. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 VENTO/P5 Nub July 22 1924. 1,502,019

C. J. CLEAR ET AL A EXHAUST Box Fileqvsept, 21, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 .w @NUN july 22, 1924.

c. J. CLEAR/ET AL EXHAUST B0X 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 2l. 1922 Patented July 22, 1924.

iran STATE PATENT QFFICE.

EXHAUST BOX.

y Application mea 'september 2i, 1922. serial No. 588,709.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it hereby known that We, CHARLES J. CLEAR and GEORGE M. WEBBER, citizens of the UnitedI Statesfand residents of Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Exhaust Box of which the following is a specification..

This invention relates more particularly to fruit canning machinery. l

The object of ourinvention is to provide an exceedingly simple and eiiicient means lfor exhausting air from fruit, etc., in cans preparatory to sealing.

A further object is to so construct same that the working parts are not exposed to the action of steam and that 'all of the parts which require attention are easily accessible.

A still further object is to enable `the operator to place the filled cans on a conveyor without any particular regard to their position or spacing without any danger of crushing a can o-r spilling the contents.

Still another object is to so arrange the heating pipes that quick heating may be secured and an even temperature be maintained throughout the entire box and that any adhering particles will be blown 'from the can-supporting carriers within the box and carried ofi' in the waste.-

We accomplish these results .in the manner set forth in the following specification andfillustrated in the accompanying' draw ings1 in which: .l

Figure .1 is a plan of our device With a portion of the hood over the receiving section cut awayand showing one section of the exhaust box.- Figure 2 isf' aside elevation of same with the exhaust box and hoods over receiving and discharging ends broken away in sectlon. Figure 3 is a S- tion along the line 3 3 in Fig. 2. Figure 4 is a front elevation with the links of the conveyor chain removed. Figure 5 is a plan of the feeding portion of our device showing same ready to push a row of cans into the ex-` haust chamber. Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the row of cans in the exhaust chamber and the feedingdevice preparing to return for an/fher row of cans. Figure 7 is a section through a heating pipe of which Figure 8 is a side elevation. Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the can removing lugs. Figure 10 is a planv of Fig. 9.

Similar numbers of reference refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that the machinery `may be divided into three sections,- a receiving or feeding section, an exhausting section, of which only one unit is shown, ,and a dis-'f charge section by Way of which the can's are taken from the exhaust box.

The exhaust box itself consists ofv four upright posts 20 joined by the transverse tica: 21 and 22 and the longitudinal ties 23 Y and 24. A sheet metal box is placed between the posts 20 and its sides 25 to extend to the top of said posts between the posts and the ties 23. The front and rear walls 26 and j the upper edge of the walls 25, 26 and 27 e and is preferably filled with water for the purpose of forming a-seal with the cover 31 which rests in the channel 30 and ispr'ovided with the handles 32.

Secured-upon the ties 21 are 33 through which are passed the steam pipes 34 which are fed from the supply pipe 35. The'pipes`34 are provided Withthe lateral openings 36 through which the steam escapes into the exhaust box, and at the same time blows ofi' any material which may have adhered to the vsides ofthe passing cans.

Secured on the upperends of the standards 33 are the T irons 37 upon and between which the cans 38 rest on their `journey through the exhaust box.

The transverse shafts 39 journal in the bearings 40 and carry the worm wheels 41 which are driven by the worms 42 on the shaft, 43 which journals inthe bearings 44 on the cross ties'22. The shaft 43 may be driven in any convenient manner. The eccentrics 45 on the shafts 39 are provided with straps 46 into which are4 set the verticalrods 47. On thepupper ends of the rods 47 are placed the blocks 48 which are joined transversel in pairs by the angle irons 49. Pairs of into I beams by the plates 52 which holdy irons 50 and 51 are formed the standards v los the upper side of the-members 50 above the can-supporting portions of the members 37 .when the eccentrics are in raised position.

Since the rods 47 are rigid in relation to the members 50 it will be seen that they form a table whose legs are the eccentric rods 47 which require no guides. 0n top of the members 50 are placed the sheet metal .strips 53 which have the upturned lugs 54 which engage the rear sides of the cans and push them forward when the members 50 are in the forward travel. lt will be observed that the lugs 54 are inclined slightly to prevent same from striking the under side of the cans on the upward travel ot the lugs, as the can is thereby given an additional forward push equal to the amount o1 the incline. Walls 55 are formed around the ho-les in the floor 28 through which the rods 47 pass.

Referring to the receiving or feeding section of the device', it will be seen that we have provided the two upright channels 56v which are -tied to the posts 20 by the ties 24, 57, 58 and 59, and to each other by the ties 60, 61 and .62. Opposite the tie 62' and secured to the posts 20 is a tie 63 both of which are slightly below the level of the can-supporting portion of the members 37. Supported at the same height is a table 64 whose sides are a short distance from thev ties 62 and 63 to permit the links of the v chain 65', which has the diamond-shaped y journal below which is placed a collar 71.

The sprocket 68 is mounted on the vertical shaft 72 which journals in the bearings 7 3 and 74. A bevel gear 75 is pinned on the shaft 72 below the bearing 74 and meshes with the bevel gear 76 on the shaft 77 carried by the bearings 78 and l79 which are supported by the tie 24. A collar 80 is inned on the shaft 77 'against the bearlng 78. 'lhe bevel gear 81 on the shaft 77 meshes with and is driven by a similar gear 82 on a shaft 39.

The bevel gear 83 on the shaft 72 meshes withl and is driven by the gear 84 on the shaft 85 carried Vby the brackets 86. 'llhe gear 87 on the shaft 85 drives the gear 88 on the vertical shaft 89 carried by the bearings 90 and 91. @n the lower end ot the shaft 89 is secured asegment gear 92 which meshes with the pinion 93 on the shaft 94 which journals at its lower end in the bearing 95 and at the upper end in the table 64 and has secured to its upper end a crank 96 bearing at the outerenda roller 97.

reoaoie lPivoted on the vertical shafts 98 are the rocker arms 99 whose ends carry the rollers 100.

rlFhe arms 101 on the lower ends ot the shafts 98 are joined by the connecting rod 102 which is urged by the spring 103 toward the sprocket 67. Placed over the members 99 is a pusher bar 104 having an extending strip attached thereto. 'lhe bar 104 is provided with the slots 106 which receive the rollers 100. 'llhese tend to force the strip 105 away from the exhaust box and hold same parallel to its end. 'lhe bar 105 is also provided with a long projecting arm 107 and a short arm 108 between which the roller 97 operates. 0n the shafts 69 above the sprocket 67 we have placed a spacer wheel 109 having notches 110 cut into its periphery at a distance and number equal to the spacing o1 the members 50.

Mounted against the post56 is a springurged arm 111 which prevents any can traveling along on the members 66 from 'being crushed by its vfailure to nd a notch in the wheel 109, thereby rendering the position in which the cans are placed on the chain 65 unimportant. f

A hood of sheet metal having the sides 112 and the top 113 covers the receiving section of the machine, except over the loading and spacing portion of the chain 65. A barv 113A forms a stop for the cans in front et the wall 112. 1t will` be understood, of course, that an opening 114 must be provided in the side 112 to permit the cans to enter the exhaust box.

' Turning now to the discharge end ot the machine, it will be observed that it consists o1 two upright posts 56A secured to the exhaust box section by the ties 24, 115 and 116 and to each other by the angle iron ties 117 and 118. 'llhe tie 119 joins the nearest post 20 and is opposite the tie 118. A channel 120, similar to the channel 120A under the receiving table 64, supports the discharge table 121 at the same height as the members 118 and 119. A chain 122 with `diamond-shaped attachments 128 travels'around the table 121 and is carried by the sprocket 124 on the shaft 125` and by the sprocket 126 on the shaft 127 which journals in the bearings 128 and is driven through ,the miter gears 129 from thev shalt' 130 which journals in the bearings 131 and is, in turn,A driven by the miter gears 132 from a shaft 39.

A sheet metal covering 133 is provided for the discharge end of the exhaust box,l

which covering has an opening 134 :for the exhaust of the cans 38.

reo

The operation ot our device is as follows: Steam is allowed to enter the exhaust box through the pipe 35 until the desired temperature is reached and maintained. Illhe shaft 43 is then rotated by power and unexhaust box, the segment gear 92 comes into mesh with the pinion 93 and a quarter turn of same moves the pusher bar 104 and the strip 105 against the row of cans and pushes them in a slightly diagonal direction into the ten channels of the exhaust box. The eccentrics 45 now raise all ofthe cans in the exhaust box and move them towardthe discharge end one space, or the distance between the pairs of lugs 54. The

strip 105 is now carried to the right out of the-way of the oncoming/cans which have been spaced by the wheel 109 and then is moved behind them to the position shown in Fig. 5, when it is ready to repeat the operation. At the discharge end the cans merely slide out to the members, 123 by which they are carried out of the steam and taken off in the most convenient manner, It will be seen that inasmuch as each can travels through the machine at a uniform rate of speed that the time for exhaustingjhe air out of the 'fruit can be .controlled to a nicety. It will also be observed that the working parts of the machine are arranged so as to permit ready replacement and to offer the minimum amount of exposure to steam all partsmost liable to give trouble. v f

Itl will also be understood that while we have illustrated only one unit of the exhaust section thatin' the proportions given in the drawings three vsuch units are required to provide the vcapacity common for machines of this nature.

The can-engaging side of the arm 111 is preferably knurled or provided with a friction face such as rubber or other substance which will cause a can to rotate into one of the notches rather than to slide along the face of the armY with possible undesirable results.

We are aware that many forms of exhaust boxes have been constructed inthe past; it is not therefore our intention to-/cover this device broadly but intend that it shall cover only such forms and modications as may fall fairly 'Within the appended claims.

What we claim as new' is:

1. An exhaust box for canned goods having straight channels passing through a" heated compartment adapted to hold cans verticall for exhaust purposes, incombina tion wit horizontal shifter bars in the central portion of 'each of said channels, up-

wardly and rearwardly inclined llugs along each side of each shifter bar, said bars being adapted to raise said cans from the floors of said channels, move same forward and then set said cans upon the ioors of said channels repeatedly untilv said cans have traversed the length f said channels.

2. An exhaus bo for canned goods having straight channels passingl through a heated `compartment adapted'to hold cans vvertically for exhaust purposes, in combination with horizontal shifter bars the central portion of v'each of said channels, upwardly and rearwardly inclined lugs along each side of each shifter bar, said bars being adapted to raise said cans from the floors of said channels, move same forward and then set said cans upon the fioors of said channels repeatedly until said cans have traversed the length 'of said channels, and means for placing one can in each channel at the same time the first Yplace in each channel is empty. I

3. In an exhaust box, the combination of a heated compartment, channels passing through said compartment, a horizontally movable shifter bar in the center of each channel, said bars having backwardly sloping projections spaced alon each edge, an eccentric under 'saidmovab e bars adapted to raise same above the iioor of said compartment in one direction andv to press same beneath said floor in the op-posite direction, and a can spacing means .adapted t'o space the-cans to correspond with the spacing o said channels.

4. The `combination of an exhaust box x having a heating device with a continuously moving conveyor in front of the inlet of said box, means for spacing cans on said conveyor, a pusher barover said conveyor adapted to push-:a row of cans from said conveyor into said exhausty box said barhav-l ing a straight front face and having a pair of longitudinal vslots formed therein and having a pair of spaced arms ofunequal length projectingffrom its rear side, a pair of connected roller carrying rocker arms un` der said pusher bar said rockerar'm having rollers which lie in said longitudinal slots so as to hold said bar parallel to' said conveyor, an intermittently driven crank arm having a' roller on its swinging end adapted to engage said bar between said unequal arms and to' move said bar forward and to the right during the first' quarter of its rotation, slide said bar tov the right during the second quarter of its rotation, and to move said bar to the left during the,l third and fourth quarters of its rotation/to a point of rest, and a spring on said connected armsadapted to urge said push bar backwardly at all times. v5. The combination of an exhaust box having longitudinal can-holding slideways `conveyor adapted to receive cans formed-therein, horizontal shifter bars for raising cans from said slideways and moving same a short distance'at a time,` sloping projections on each side of said shifter bars adapted to impart excess movement to the cans, with a feed mechanism consisting of a continuously moving conveyor, a can spacing Wheel over said conveyor, a spring-urged guide for delivering cans to said spacing Wheel, a can pushing bar adapted to move a row of cans from said' conveyor into said slidevvays at one time, and a discharge device consisting of a continuously moving eing discharged from said slideways.

6. The combination of an exhaust box having a plurality of can-holding slideways formed therein, a conveyor for carrying cans in front of said slideways, a spacing mechanism for spacing said cans equi-distantly with said slideways consisting of a Wheel over said conveyor having notches formed in its periphery equal in spacing with said slideways, and a resilient guide member adapted to roll said cans vertically against said notched Wheel over the center of said conve or.

7. nexhaust box having a plurality of ,fixed slideways, in combination with a plurality of parallell horizontal shifter bars adapted to pass throughv the bottoms of said slideways, eccentrics adapted to move said shifter bars in unison, and backwardly Sloping lugs rising over said shifter bars adapted to engage the rear'side of every can and insure excess movements of the cans in the slideways.

8. The combination of an exhaust box recante having a plurality of longitudinal slideways mounted therein, with a continuously moving chain conveyor-moving around a air of Isprockets at the inlet end of said ox, said chain having horizontal portions formed thereon adapted to support cans vertically, a` spacer Wheel on one of said sprockets having as many notches as there are slideways in said exhaust box, a Hexible friction arm adapte-d to` roll cans from one run of said conveyor into said notches, a parallelly moving push bar above said conveyor behind said spaced cans, a crank for actuating said push bar intermittently, a segment gear and pinion ,adapted to actuate said crank in a fixed relation to the travel of said conveyor and to the position of the cans thereon so that an entire row of cans will be placed one each in said slidevvays at one operation, and a discharge conveyor across the discharge end of said box.

9. lln an exhaust box, the combination of a steam-heated box provided with a plurality of longitudinal can-holding channels, horizontal shifter bars adapted to pass up- Wardly and forwardly through said channels, a conveyor adaptedt convey cans in front of. said channels, a spa-cer Wheel arranged to space said cans equi-distant to said channel spacings on said conveyor, a push bar arranged to push a row of cans into said Channels so that one can will be placed in each channel Whenever the first space in each channel is empty, and means for receiving said cans from the discharge end of said box.

CHARLES J. CLEAR. GEURGE M. VVEBBER. 

